by Melissa Newland
After serving the L’Anse Area School (LAS) for the past 30 years, Superintendent Susan Tollefson has decided it is time to turn over the reigns to someone new and enjoy retirement. At the last LAS board meeting held Monday, March 18, 2024, Tollefson submitted her official notification that she will be retiring effective Oct. 1, 2024. Tollefson’s career at LAS includes 21 years of teaching and 9 years as superintendent and she noted she enjoyed them all. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Melissa Newland
The small amount of snowfall/precipitation so far this winter has made for dry conditions here in the UP and local fire departments along with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) urges all to adhere to the burn permit restrictions that are in effect in the area. Last week, the L’Anse Fire Department (LFD) noted it was called to a small brush fire alongside US-41. The crew headed out the morning of March 15, 2024, to assess the situation. “It took us a bit to find it as it had gone out before we got there. But it was 10:30 on a somewhat frosty morning,” stated the LFD Facebook page noting, “The fire looked to be automotive related (possibly a bearing failure) that ignited several ‘spot’ fires over a distance of 100 feet or more. We counted ten-plus small fires that ignited. We were
very fortunate that it was a cold morning, or this had the potential to be disastrous. Please, please, please be fire smart out there this weekend”. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Melissa Newland
New playground equipment will soon be installed at the Baraga State Park through a community playground build program. The Baraga State Park announced at the end of
February that the project was able to be accomplished through a partnership with the Michigan Army National Guard for the community playground  build program and will take
place June 2nd through the 7th at Baraga State Park. Baraga State Park authorities noted that the National Guard will lend their expertise to construct and install the brand-new
playground system in the campground. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Melissa Newland
The L’Anse Junior High band recently participated for their first time at Band and Orchestra Festival which was held at Houghton High School last week. According to the Michigan Schools Band & Orchestra Association’s (MSBOA) website, www.msboa.org, “At Band and
Orchestra Festival, students have the opportunity for ensembles from member schools to perform a program of three pieces for adjudication, one of which must be from MSBOA’s required list. District-level festivals are held at the end of February through the beginning of March, with this one being held Feb. 29, 2024. Each group is evaluated by three performance judges and one sight-reading judge. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by John Raffel
It’s an election year and Baraga County clerk Wendy Goodreau reminds individuals of various deadlines for filing for various offices. Filing deadline for partisan county and  township candidates is April 23 at 4 p.m. for the August ballot. Filing deadline for
precinct delegates is May 7, at 4 p.m. for the August ballot. Filing deadline for candidates without political party affiliation seeking partisan office is July 18, at 4 p.m. for the November ballot. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Porter Davis
As most Yoopers could tell you, winter is never consistent in northern Michigan, but rarely is it so tame as it has been this year. Most people would consider a mild winter to be a blessing, and perhaps in most places that is true, but here where we’re so accustomed to cold winters, most businesses plan their best times around the darker months. When faced with a winter that hardly leaves snow on the ground, decades old establishments are  struggling to find ways to operate. Beyond ice fishing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing,  there exists the restaurants that feed us, the hotels that provide a warm bed, and the shops with fishing supplies. The bay is devoid of the dozens of ice shacks that typically dot it in the heart of February. Snowmobile trails are practically nonexistent and thus tourism is taking a huge hit. With March right around the corner, we may yet get a big storm or two, but the likelihood that our winter is already over is all too apparent. Beyond commercial industries that everyone is familiar with, the warm weather brings an even greater threat to the state economy. Logging has been a part of life in the UP since the land was first  settled. Logging with modern machinery and vehicles typically requires the logging  companies to adhere to strict rules and regulations to preserve the land for further use and relogging over time. When the ground freezes, heavy equipment doesn’t damage the  ground and loggers are able to do some of their most profitable work in the winter. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Christy Miron  Sacred Heart School Principal
National Catholic Schools Week was celebrated by staff and students at Sacred Heart
School (SHS) in L’Anse who participated as part of the nationwide celebration of Catholic education. The event took place Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, with fun activities for students and faculty alike, including a school-wide service project and giving appreciation for the work teachers do every day. “Catholic Schools Week is a favorite for all each year,” said SHS  Principal Christy Miron. “Students had the opportunity to put aside their uniforms for the
week and dress according to each day’s theme.” To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Porter Davis
The Otter Lake Fishing Derby has been going on in Tapiola for many years now, bringing people from all over the western Upper Peninsula to go out on the ice. The fishing derby is a day of ice fishing on Otter Lake, where fisherman and kids compete to catch the biggest fish. Beginning at sunrise, fisherman haul in fish all day long using poles and tip-ups. Some people sat around the drilled holes with friends or family, while others drilled multiple holes and waited to see the flags from their tip-ups swing up across the lake. Regardless of  method, most fished in groups and enjoyed the warmer weather. The derby took place on
Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. This year, the only fish measured for the contest were Northern Pike. Fisherman had until the morning of the derby to sign up and were allowed to fish until 4 p.m. Afterwards, a weigh in took place at 5 p.m. Most people came in a little early and
fish measurements were submitted throughout the day. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Porter Davis
A Quilt of Valor was recently presented to local man and Korean War veteran Clyde Elmblad. The quilt that Elmblad was given was hand-made and specially embroidered with
his name. These quilts aim to provide comfort and peace to those touched by war. Presented with his quilt at the L’Anse Legion on Jan. 16, 2024, Elmblad enjoyed an evening of appreciation for his service and time with friends and family. The legion was filled with chatter and laughter while everyone ate dinner with Clyde, showing their appreciation by simply being present. The hosting of the presentation was done by the L’Anse Legion  alongside the Alston and L’Anse VFWs. Kristina Waara, L’Anse VFW Commander, presented Elmblad with the quilt itself, alongside Jim Sullivan of the Alston VFW, who helped to get the evening set up. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.